29 March 2020

Prayer

Almighty God, Creator:
the morning is Yours, rising into fullness.
The summer is Yours, dipping into autumn.
Eternity is Yours, dipping into time.
The vibrant grasses, the scent of flowers, the lichen on the
rocks, the tang of seaweed.
All are Yours.
Gladly we live in this garden of Your creating.

But creation is not enough.
Always in the beauty, the foreshadowing of decay.
The lambs frolicking careless: so soon to be led to
slaughter.
Nature red and scarred as well as lush and green.
In the garden also:
always the thorn.
Creation is not enough.

Almighty God, Redeemer:
the sap of life in our bones and being is Yours,
lifting us to ecstasy.
But always in the beauty: the tang of sin, in our consciences.
The dry lichen of sins long dead, but scarred upon our minds.
In the garden that is each of us, always the thorn……

Holy Spirit, Enlivener:
breathe on us, fill us with life anew.
In Your new creation, already upon us, breaking through,
groaning and travailing,
but already breaking through,
breathe on us……
Very Revd Dr George MacLeod
Iona Abbey

Be still,
relax,
slip into easeful with the Eternal,
the Intimate, the Holy One.

Let Shalom soothe the anxiety of your soul.
Breathe in the breath of God, life-giving,
nourishing.

Let the Holy Spirit rise within you.
May deep, dark Stillness
encircle, enfold and embrace you.
Wait on the LORD.